Valparaiso, Indiana

Step Six-Controlling the pitch of the oboe

The oboe sound produces a sawtooth wave.  The wave form cuts through the air like a sawtooth blade on a knife.  Thus, the sound travels the farthest and can be heard through the entire band or orchestra with little difficulty unlike the flue that produces a sine wave (figure 8 on its side) that is very round, and the clarinet that produces a square wave with angular edges.

As a result, the oboe is the instrument that tunes the orchestra, and the oboist sits near the center of the orchestra where all sections can clearly hear the concert “A” prior to each performance.

Thus, the oboe sound needs to always be in tune in the low, middle, and high registers.  For beginning oboists the sound can be too flat or too low in pitch for the following reasons:

• The reed is not pushed all the way into the well (top of the oboe).
• the oboist has too little reed in their mouth.
• The air is moving too slowly or in a downward direction towards the floor.
• The embouchure is not firmly around the double reeds.
• The reed is too open or too round in shape.

The sound can also be too sharp or too high in pitch for the following reasons:

• The lips are too far forward on the reed, and there is too much reed in the oboist’s mouth.
• The teeth are too closed and not stretched open like you are yawning
• When your embouchure looks horizontal (like you are smiling) and your teeth are too closed.
• The oboist is biting down on the reed forcing the reed to constantly close.

If you are not sure about the pitch of your instrument simply play a low G, take your reed off the oboe and buzz a G on your reed.  You may find that your buzz is too high in pitch.  If so, pull the reed out of your mouth until you can match the G on your oboe with the G on your reed.  If your reed is too closed you will need to open it by pressing open one side at a time.  Do not squeeze the reed on both sides at the same time.

If the buzz is too flat you need to take more reed into your mouth, play with a faster stream of air, and direct your air upward  like you are spraying the ceiling with your air speed.  With the reed wet you may have to close the blades together just above the thread.  Hold the blades of the reed together for 10 seconds and check the opening.  If  the opening is still to open repeat the process for 15-20 seconds.  This is common with brand new reeds for the first few days of practice.

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Students and oboists, our reeds are available at several locations and online. See our website for purchasing information: http://stradellareeds.com/find_us/